New Delhi, February 23 Indian shooting legend Abhinav Bindra announced on Monday the end of his eight-year tenure as vice chair of the International Olympic Committee's athletes commission, describing his time in the role as one of the most significant chapters of his sporting career.
The 43-year-old Bindra, who became India's first individual Olympic gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games, has been replaced by Kenyan rugby player Humphrey Kayange on the panel, which was restructured during the ongoing Winter Olympics in Italy.
"Serving athletes from around the world has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my sporting journey. To be entrusted with their voices, their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams is a responsibility I have always taken seriously.
"Every conversation, every decision, every moment at the table was guided by the simple belief that athletes must always remain at the heart of the Olympic Movement," Bindra posted on 'X'.
Describing his colleagues as extraordinary, Bindra said each of them was dedicated to strengthening athlete representation and ensuring that their voices were heard and respected.
"I leave this role with deep pride in what we have accomplished, and with optimism for what lies ahead. The future of athlete representation is strong because it is driven by courageous, thoughtful, and passionate individuals who believe in something larger than themselves," he said.
The 19-member IOC Athletes' Commission members are involved in a variety of activities, including the evaluation of candidate cities for the Olympics, monitoring the organization of the Games, combating doping, and developing training and education programs for women.